Physical Geography BSc Honours

Course overview

This degree gives you the opportunity to focus on physical geography from the very start. You'll develop a deep understanding of the processes that shape our planet and how they impact on human lives and communities. Alongside this, you'll develop advanced laboratory and GIS skills.

You'll learn from internationally recognised experts in a range of fields, in the UK and internationally. Valuable field visits will take you to explore our geographically rich region but also to places as far away as Morocco, Iceland and New Zealand.

Having already performed very well in A level Geography, you'll continue to build a firm foundation of knowledge and skills in Stage 1, enabling you to thrive in the final stages. The turning point of the degree is a residential field course module in Stage 2.

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Featured module

GEO1005: Environmental Issues

This module highlights the Earth science, social, political, economic and ethical dimensions of human-environment interactions, drawing on case studies from a range of habitats.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

You'll explore global environmental issues alongside physical geography concepts and techniques. For example, glacial, volcanic, tectonic, flooding, landslide as well as other river catchment and coastal processes.

You’ll gain a broad introduction into the methods used to investigate and understand how environments and landscapes evolve and change. This includes mapping, coring, surveying and GIS analysis. You'll put this training into practice during a residential field course in the Lake District.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Geographic Information Systems	10
An Introduction to GNSS and its Applications	10
Principles of Remote Sensing	10
Environmental Issues	20
Physical Geography Field Course	20
Introduction to Physical Geography	20
Geographical Skills	20
Quantitative Geographical Analysis	10

You'll study advanced research techniques in physical geography as well as more thematic modules. These will help you to deepen your understanding of key concepts and processes in physical geography research. 

You will also choose your second-year field course. In recent years these have included Ireland, Iceland, Morocco and New Zealand. 

Remaining topics will be optional. This gives you the chance to engage with our cutting-edge research in areas that interest you the most. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Doing Physical Geography Research: Theory and Practice	20
Key Methods for Physical Geographers	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Animals, Plants and People: an Introduction to Environmental Archaeology	20
Geological Resources	10
Research Methods in Environmental Pollution	20
Geographic Information Systems: Theory and Application	10
Student Exchange Semester 2	50
Global Environmental Change	20
Glacial Environments	20
Biogeography	20
River Catchment Dynamics	20
Career Development for second year students	20

You'll have a choice of optional modules and will complete a major piece of independent research in your dissertation, which represents a third of your studies in Stage 3. Specialist optional modules are closely linked to the research interests of staff, providing cutting-edge insights into exciting and developing areas of physical geography.

There is also another opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad, which will be an option if you didn’t take the study abroad option in Stage 2.

Modules

Compulsory modules

You take the following compulsory module (except those taking GEO3115 Exchange):

Dissertation (40 credits)

 

If you're taking GEO3115 (Student Exchange) you take the following compulsory module:

Dissertation for Study Abroad Students (40 credits)

 

All students take one of the following fieldtrip modules:

Physical Geography Field course 2: Iceland (20 credits)

OR

Fieldwork at Home (20 credits)

OR

Humans vs Nature in the Netherlands (Netherlands Fieldcourse) (20 credits)

Modules

Optional Modules	Credits
GIS Fieldcourse	20
Geohazards and Deformation of the Earth	10
Geospatial Informatics	10
Physical Geography Field course 2: Iceland	20
Fieldwork at Home	20
Geography Fieldtrip for Module Pre-Registration	20
Humans vs Nature in the Netherlands (Netherlands Field course)	20
Dissertation for Study Abroad Students	40
Dissertation	40
Student Exchange Semester 1	40
Polar Environments	20
Landslides and coasts	20
Applied Fluvial Geomorphology	20
Career Development for final year students	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They combine data on the planned delivery and assessments of our courses in 2021-22 with data on the modules chosen by our students in 2020-21.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

We deliver a ‘hands-on’ approach to geography. We use practical surveying classes, complemented by laboratory work, computer-based scientific analysis, and development of models and theories.

Our geography courses include a high level of staff and student interaction, including:

• tutorials
• lectures
• laboratory work in new Geoscience laboratories
• IT lab sessions
• seminars
• fieldwork

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Projects

• 

  Reflective report/journal

• 

  Reports

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Practical skills

Fieldwork is an invaluable part of this degree and brings to life the topics you'll be studying. You'll get to take part in:

• UK and international residential trips to put your technical skills into practice
• regular day trips to explore our nearby landscapes

Research skills

You'll be part of a vibrant research community alongside our highly respected research staff. Fieldwork through your degree will help you grow as a researcher and cultivate your own research techniques.

Your final year dissertation enables you to refine and showcase the research skills you've developed throughout your degree.

Opportunities

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year, and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. A work placement is not available if you're spending a year studying abroad. Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements

Study abroad

Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

You may choose to spend semester 2 of Stage 2 or semester 1 of Stage 3 on an international exchange at a partner institution.

Find out more about study abroad

Facilities and environment

Facilities

As a geography student at Newcastle, you'll be based in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology.

You'll have access to modern laboratories and workshops, and a range of facilities and specialist equipment that will be part of the entirely refurbished and newly resourced home of Geography at Newcastle, the Henry Daysh Building and Geoscience Laboratories.

Our geomorphology and sediment, chemistry and biology laboratories are used for a combination of teaching and research. Our research-specific laboratories comprise organic geochemistry and palaeoecology, a spatial analysis lab, and cosmogenic isotope lab.

Field equipment

Field equipment includes a range of technologies for:

• topographic survey
• soil and sediment sampling
• biological and chemical analysis
• hydrological analysis

Our laboratories

• biology laboratory
• chemistry laboratory
• cosmogenic isotope laboratory
• geomorphology and sediment laboratories

Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have, when starting university.

You'll also benefit from our:

• extended induction programme, to help you quickly settle in to our lively community of staff and students
• activities and events run by our highly active student-run society, GeogSoc

Your future

Join a network of successful graduates

Recent graduates have secured roles such as:

• assistant flood risk consultant
• data analyst
• Environment Agency technical assistant
• graduate surveyor

Graduates in demand

Our graduates’ excellent employment record is a sign of the flexibility and professionalism that our geography degrees develop.

You will leave with sought-after skills, including teamwork, project management, research and presentation skills, and therefore will have access to a wide variety of careers.

A Geography degree from Newcastle will ensure you develop the skills that employers look for and can open the doors to a wide range of careers. Our graduates have been recruited by a variety of organisations, including:

• the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
• the Environment Agency
• independent and major scientific consultancies
• Raleigh International
• the Armed Forces
• the NHS
• local government
• financial services firms

Make a difference

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Careers support

We strongly value developing your employability and have our own Geography Employability Co-ordinator. In your final year you can select an optional work experience module.

Our teaching draws upon rich and diverse research networks connected to the world of work. What we teach captures insights from employers ranging from governmental bodies and policy makers, to non-government organisations, the private sector and charities ensuring you are career ready.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme

This degree is approved by DTUS, a Ministry of Defence sponsorship programme for students who wish to join the Royal Navy, British Army, RAF, or Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG) as technical officers after graduation. 

This scheme is for 2021 entry only. DTUS will not be running for 2022 entry.

Find out more about the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2023 entry (per year)

Home Fee Students

£9250

International Fee Students

£22200

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• different tuition fees
• additional costs

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages